The United States and Mexico: A View of Corruption Through the Purchase of Political Influence within the Framework of Comparative Election Laws

Posted: 1 Nov 2016

Date Written: October 21, 2016

Abstract

The citizens of Mexico and the United States are both victims of political corruption. Popular perceptions are that corruption in Mexico remains endemic while corruption in the US is more anomalous: views supported by the results of Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). This paper examines and conflates the most broadly defined form of political corruption in the US and Mexico – influence peddling (a form a clientelism) between political candidates and campaign donors. Based on the available empirical data and other slightly more amorphous evidence, Mexico ostensibly enjoys an election system at least as free from political corruption, transparent and fair as its northern neighbor. Which is not to say of course that either system is especially transparent, fair or free from corruption.

Keywords: United States, Mexico, political corruption, campaign finance, influence peddling, political clientelism

Suggested Citation

Olives, Glen, The United States and Mexico: A View of Corruption Through the Purchase of Political Influence within the Framework of Comparative Election Laws (October 21, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2857268

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